Vents and Chimney....continued

By Debra from Olde Cape Cod, 23 June

Well, let's finish our latest project! Remember yesterday when I was glueing flat backed crystals to the "sheet metal"? This is what it looks like now after three coats of Gunmetal Gray metallic paint::
The plumbing piece now has 3 coats of Antique Copper metallic and Brass metallic paints:  I know what you're thinking, it doesn't match the other one! After a couple of coats of Matte nailpolish, we're good!
So on to the piece of 2x4. After priming it, I coated the wood with a thin layer of Elmer's White glue and applied brick paper. I figured if the white glue made the paper crinkle a little, it would just look more realistic. Came out the way I wanted: 
Now to finish the chimney cap. I cut strip wood to fit around the top of the chimney and glued it to the bottom of the piece of wood I cut and had added the "sheet metal" to.: 
Dug out some more flat backed crystals and glued them on. 
Two coats of black paint made the crystals look like rivets. A quick dry brush with Gunmetal Gray metallic made the cap look more like metal. The Captain was relieved that he didn't have to have sparklies on his Summerhouse! LOL! 
Once all glued together, this is the new set of cowl vents for the Steampunk Summerhouse!  What shall we tackle next?! Have a great evening all!

Cowl Vents and a New Chimney!

By Debra from Olde Cape Cod, 22 June

Another really warm day here in the south. I was looking at the chimney with the cowl vent and decided I needed two cowl vents instead! Since the Neverwas haul inspired me, I wanted to have something similar plus provide more air flow through the Summerhouse. Fortunately, I had purchased two plumbing pieces so I had another one on hand. The first thing to do was drill out the threads with a paddle bit in a small drill press. DH helped me with this part as it actually took three hands to accomplish.  This made the walls a little thinner so that I could make the round opening more oval. I placed a clamp where I wanted it and heated the piece with my blow dryer. After a dunk in cold water, it held it's shape. It took a few times, but was finally close to what I wanted.  The next step was to cut a piece of plastic canvas roughly the shape of the opening. Then it was trimmed and adjusted until it fit. This piece was set aside until later. The interior was painted with two coats of flat black. 
The chimney had to be larger now to accomodate two cowl vents. I found a piece of 2X4 in my husband's shop and brought it in and measured and traced the roof pitch onto the piece of wood. DH cut it on his bandsaw and it fit just right! 
I cut out a piece from scrap wood for a chimney top and added the shirt cardboard "sheet metal". Also cut a couple of 1/4" strips of the same cardboard to make circles to hold the plumbing piece cowl vents.  The next step gave the Captain pause....I glued on bling! LOL!  He walked off saying he just couldn't watch anymore. But, there is a method to my madness! Right now I have to let paint and glue dry, so this will continue tomorrow! Have a great day all!